Fire pit assembly

ABSTRACT

A fire pit assembly having a combustion area along an upper portion of a base, wherein a fan is within the base. An overhanging hood is disposed upward of the combustion area, wherein a passageway fluidly connects the hood and the base so that airflow urged by the fan urges air above the combustion area into the hood, through the passageway, and out exhaust vents in the base disposed below the combustion area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/284,237, filed 30 Nov. 2021, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fire pits and, more particularly, a fire pit assembly enclosing a hood that is operatively associated with one or more fans to distribute heat.

The standard fire pit is somewhat like a campfire, while it is no doubt aesthetically pleasing, the actual heat that is given off by the flames is confined to radiant heat. Radiant heat, however, is only a small fraction of the actual heat generated. As a result, most of the heat just simply goes straight up in the air and is lost, resulting in very little heat being distributed to the people around the fire pit.

Current fire pit devices and systems that have tried to gather more heat from the fire employ heat exchangers, which are either prohibitively expensive for an outside fire pit and/or are very inefficient.

As can be seen, there is a need for either a fire pit assembly enclosing a hood or overhanging diverter that is operatively associated with one or more fans to laterally distribute heat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may include a fire pit assembly wherein the actual heat from the fire is either collected by the hood, in the case of a rectangular fire pit, or diverted by way of a metal plate, in the case of a square or circular fire pit, wherein the hood or diverter plate is operatively associated with a fan to laterally distribute heat to the people sitting around the fire pit assembly.

In certain embodiments, the actual combustion process is captured by the hood. This is then sucked into the fire pit assembly body, in the case of a rectangular fire pit, mixed with fresh air, and distributed to the people sitting around the fire pit. In the case of circular or square fire pits the heat is absorbed by a metal plate above the flames, a fan mounted above the metal plate then distributes the heat laterally relative to the metal plate to the people sitting around the fire pit.

In one aspect of the present invention, a fire pit assembly includes the following: a body having a base and an overhanging hood; a combustion area is disposed along an upper surface of the base, wherein the combustion area is directly downward of the hood; a passageway fluidly connects the hood to the base; and a fan located within the base urges an airflow from an underside of the hood, through the passageway in a downward direction, and out through one or more exhaust vents along one or more sides of the base, wherein the one or more exhaust vents are disposed below the combustion area; further including an access into the hood, wherein the access is provided along said underside of the hood; further including a blower disposed in the hood, wherein the blower urges the airflow toward the downward direction; and further including a diverter disposed within the hood, wherein the diverter is configured so that a portion of the airflow coming from the access is shunted toward the downward direction, wherein the diverter and the blower are entirely enclosed within the hood, and wherein the fan is entirely enclosed in the body of the fire pit assembly.

In another aspect of the present invention, the fire pit assembly includes the following: a base; a diverter; a combustion area is disposed along an upper surface of the base, wherein the combustion area is directly downward of the diverter; and a fan located above the diverter so that an airflow generated by the fan is diverted laterally, wherein the diverter is configured so that approximately half of said airflow is urged in a first lateral direction while a remaining portion of said airflow is urged in a second lateral directions, and wherein the first and second lateral directions are away from each other, wherein the diverter comprises louvers, wherein said airflow is initially downward from the fan, and wherein the diverter is a plate chosen to absorb heat generated from the combustion area.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use.

FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a fire pit assembly having a combustion area along an upper portion of a base, wherein a fan is within the base. An overhanging hood is disposed upward of the combustion area, wherein a passageway fluidly connects the hood and the base so that airflow urged by the fan urges air above the combustion area into the hood, through the passageway, and out exhaust vents in the base disposed below the combustion area.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3 , the present invention may include a fire pit assembly 10 that includes a combustion area 24 along an upper portion of a base 12 with a hood 12 positioned directly (vertically) over the combustion area 24 to capture the heated air rising from the combustion area 24. A passageway 13 may fluidly connects a compartment defined by the hood 12 to a compartment defined by the base 14.

Air above the combustion area 24, for instance heated air resulting from a fire along the combustion area 24, may be selectively urged as airflow 46 into the hood 12 of the fire pit assembly 10 by way of the fan 44 via the passageway 13 fluidly connects a compartment defined by the hood 12 to a compartment defined by the base 14, wherein the fan 44 is located. A blower 18 may be disposed in the compartment of the hood 12, along a distal end of the hood 12, so as to further urge the airflow 46 toward the base 14. In some embodiments a diverter 16 may be disposed within the hood 14 compartment, wherein the diverter 16 (downstream of the blower 18) is configured so that a portion of the airflow 46 coming into the hood 12 (via access ports 11) is shunted toward the base 14 via a downward direction through the passageway 13.

The base 14 may have one or more exhaust vents 40 disposed below the elevation of the combustion area 24 so that the airflow is laterally directed to all the people sitting around the fire pit assembly 10. Each exhaust vent 40 may have interior partitions 46. Other vents along the fire pit assembly 10 may provide allow ambient air from the external environment to be received in the compartment of the base 14 or the hood 12 for mixing with the heated airflow 46.

The combustion area 24 may be defined by a burner pan or the like that supports a heating element 22. The heating element 22 may be a burner or the like designed to operate with propane or natural gas because of the clean burning nature of these two fuels, there is no smoke, or smell. Thereby, the heat generated may be controlled by a gas control valve 30 or gas valve 32 fluidly coupled to the propane tank 36 which would also have a tank valve 38. The combustion area 24 may provide an igniter 26 operatively associated with fuel lines 33 connected to the gas control valve 30 and/or gas valve 32. The combustion area 24 may provide a thermocouple 28 or other temperature sensor for measuring temperature to sense whether there is a flame that allows gas to enter the burner 22. If it does not sense a flame, the present invention turns off the gas, preventing gas from accumulating. The combustion area 24 may also provide decorative fireproof material 34. A vented door 50 may provide access to the fuel tank 36.

The fire pit assembly 10 may utilize a rather large internal fan 44. A sensing device, such as a pressure switch 20 may be installed so that if for any reason the fan stops working the gas supplied to the unit is cut off, preventing the fire pit assembly 10 from ever overheating.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 , for the circular fire pit assembly 60, the principles are similar. The hood over the flames may be circular with a fan 66 located above the circular hood. The fan 66 may be housed in a fan enclosure 62, wherein the fan 66 blows the air down on a heat collector/diverter 70, which is heated by the circular combustion area 24, thereby distributing the heated airflow 46 to the people sitting around the fire pit assembly 60.

The fan enclosure 62 may have support posts 76 connected to the base 80 of the fire pit assembly 60. The fan enclosure 62 may utilize a fan brace 64 to stabilize the fan 66. The fan enclosure 62 may also be used to hold lights 74 to enhance aesthetic enjoyment. A fan housing screen 68 may be provided on one or both top and bottom sides for allowing the fan 66 to draw or urge air from above down onto the heat collector/diverter 70. The heat collector/diverter 70 may have louvers 72. The base 80 may provide a countertop 78 that surrounds the combustion area 24. The base 80 may also provide gas controls 82 for selectively controlling the combustion of fuel in the combustion area 24.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. While depressing the gas control valve 30 located next to the electrical switch 48, the user may push the igniter button 26 every second or so until the fire pit ignites. The user may continue holding the gas control valve 30 in for approximately 20 to 30 seconds until you can release it and the flame remains lit. If the flame goes out, repeat steps four and five. To shut the unit down, the user may turn off the electrical switch 48, and close the valve 40 on top of the propane tank 36.

A method of making the present invention may include the following. The actual framework for the fire pit assembly 10, may be simply a rectangular box, constructed of steel 2×4 studs and bottom track that are available at any of the home improvement stores. Many different dimensions are available depending on the manufacturer's preferences. The studs and bottom track may be held together by screws or spot wells.

The framework may be covered with 25-gauge metal or other suitable durable, heat-resistant materials. The hood 12 may also be constructed of the same metal but does not need an interior frame and should be kept as light as possible. The covering of the frame may be secured with screws or spot welded. The metal covering except for the hood could be changed to various underlayment which would support stone, stucco, tile, etc. to give an aesthetic exterior finish.

The actual burner pan is usually filled with colored glass in various shapes and forms. There may also be rocks and various man-made objects which are designed to be put in fire pits and fireplaces which could be used to enhance the experience. A six- or eight-inch-tall glass windscreen is also available as an accessory to go around the fire pit assembly 10 to help prevent the wind from blowing it out.

Various things can be done to disguise the vents where the warm air exits from the center of the fire pit. Various sizes of pipe “EMP or electro mechanical tubing” can be put in a frame encircling the bottom foot or so of the fire pit these are space in such a way that they prevent you from seeing inside the bottom of the fire pit but do not significantly reduce airflow 46.

A small squirrel cage fan could be installed at the end of the hood to aid in cooling the hood when you have the gas turned up on high. Small lightweight guards could also be installed on the hood to prevent anyone from touching it.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. A user would need a power source, such as a 110 V extension cord, and to hook up the appropriate natural gas or propane supply. Then the user need only follow the instructions for lighting up the fire pit.

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet may be installed where an extension cord plugs into the fire pit assembly 10, thereby preventing electrical shock.

The hood 12 that captures the heat is located high enough above the flames that it does not affect an aesthetic enjoyment of the flames. What makes it enjoyable is the heat, that is given off at the base of the unit, to all the people sitting around the unit.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refers to a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number. And the term “substantially” refers to up to 80% or more of an entirety. Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “aligned” means parallel, substantially parallel, or forming an angle of less than 35.0 degrees. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “transverse” means perpendicular, substantially perpendicular, or forming an angle between 55.0 and 125.0 degrees. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “length” means the longest dimension of an object. Also, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “width” means the dimension of an object from side to side. For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “above” generally means superjacent, substantially superjacent, or higher than another object although not directly overlying the object. Further, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “mechanical communication” generally refers to components being in direct physical contact with each other or being in indirect physical contact with each other where movement of one component affect the position of the other.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fire pit assembly comprising: a body having a base and a hood; a combustion area is disposed along an upper surface of the base, wherein the combustion area is directly downward of the hood; a passageway fluidly connects the overhang to the base; and a fan located within the base urges an airflow from an underside of the hood, through the passageway in a downward direction, and out through one or more exhaust vents along one or more sides of the base, wherein the one or more exhaust vents are disposed below the combustion area.
 2. The fire pit assembly of claim 1, further comprising an access into the hood, wherein the access is provided along said underside of the hood.
 3. The fire pit assembly of claim 2, further comprising a blower disposed in the hood, wherein the blower urges the airflow toward the downward direction.
 4. The fire pit assembly of claim 3, further comprising a diverter disposed within the hood, wherein the diverter is configured so that a portion of the airflow coming from the access is shunted toward the downward direction.
 5. The fire pit assembly of claim 4, wherein the diverter and the blower are entirely enclosed within the hood, and wherein the fan is entirely enclosed in the body of the fire pit assembly.
 6. A fire pit assembly comprising: a base; a diverter; a combustion area is disposed along an upper surface of the base, wherein the combustion area is directly downward of the diverter; and a fan located above the diverter so that an airflow generated by the fan is diverted laterally.
 7. The fire pit assembly of claim 6, wherein the diverter is configured so that approximately half of said airflow is urged in a first lateral direction while a remaining portion of said airflow is urged in a second lateral directions, and wherein the first and second lateral directions are away from each other.
 8. The fire pit assembly of claim 7, wherein the diverter comprises louvers.
 9. The fire pit assembly of claim 8, wherein said airflow is initially downward from the fan.
 10. The fire pit assembly of claim 9, wherein the diverter is a plate chosen to absorb heat generated from the combustion area. 